Jane Fonda threatened to leave boyfriend over Parkinson’s denial

Veteran actress Jane Fonda threatened to end her relationship with boyfriend Richard Perry if he didn’t start taking his battle with Parkinson’s disease seriously.

The 76-year-old Oscar winner began dating the record producer in 2009 and was made aware of his condition on their first date.

Fonda has now opened up about her experience of dating someone with the degenerative illness, and admits she handed Perry an ultimatum to make him prioritize his health.

In a candid blog on her official site, Fonda writes, “Richard Perry, the man I live with, has Parkinson’s. He’s had it for over 10 years. He told me about it four and a half years ago on our first date. … Frankly, I didn’t pay it much heed. After all, it was just a date.

“But then there comes love and I entered a committed relationship and I said, ‘Richard, if you don’t take your disease seriously and become an expert in it so you know exactly what your options are, I’m not hanging around.’ And he did become an expert. He has a top notch motor-disorder neurologist, he works out every day, does yoga, he takes his meds.”

The actress admits she wrote the blog to show her support for other Parkinson’s sufferers, including actor Michael J. Fox, who was diagnosed with the condition in the early 1990s.

Fonda adds: “Richard and I are both grateful that more and more people are talking about their Parkinson’s disease, most especially and importantly, Michael J. Fox. So, with this blog, we’re publicly joining the discourse.”